Idle Words

Happy Sunday!

Dr. Bill Winston said, "It is poor stewardship not to desire what Jesus has already paid for!"  Think about it like this.  A dear loved one, prepares your favorite meal with all the trimmings. This is a loved one who can really cook! They have a spotlessly clean kitchen, so there is no reason why you would not eat their food! They go all out, and break the budget.  They are overjoyed to be able to provide this special meal.  They patiently wait for you to enjoy it, but you go into the kitchen and eat cold cereal.  All of their time,  their hard work, and their effort has gone to waste.  How disrespectful on your part!  How selfish and inconsiderate of you not to partake of all they provided!  Sure, I know what you're saying..."I would never do that!"  Are you sure about that?  Jesus suffered and died on the cross to redeem your life from destruction.  This is not just a "Get Out of Hell Free Card" but an opportunity to live an abundant life!  Jesus said, "The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in ALL its fullness."(John 10:10, Living Bible).  The spies went into the Promised Land and brought back samples of the produce.  It was evidence of the extravagant land God had given them.  Numbers 13:23 describes the proof, "they checked out the lush Eshcol riverbed that, as its name suggests, grew bunches of grapes. So thick and heavy were the clusters that when two of the men cut down one branch holding one cluster, they had to carry it on a pole between them. They also picked up some pomegranates and figs from that place."(Voice).  Don't let the enemy fool you! The Bible is not just a good book!  This is actual history!  This was one cluster of grapes!  Nowadays, you give your child a cluster of grapes to hold in their hand.  But just because our grapes pale in comparison, don't think that that God doesn't have BIG things prepared for you! 

Dr. Winston continued the series, "Receiving Your Inheritance" with the subtitle, "Living Large".  We have to see ourselves the way God sees us!  God sees us as the "righteousness of God in Christ Jesus".  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God."(Contemporary English Version).   John 1:12 says, "But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them."(Living Bible).   We are now God's children!  He is a good, good father!  He has provided everything we could ever need, and he wants us to have more than enough to share with others!  2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share."(Voice).  

How can we enjoy this type of abundance? Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  Genesis 1:26 says, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:"(KJV).  We were created to act and look like God!  We were given dominion in the earth over everything that creeps on the earth!  Charles Capps used to say, "God even gave us dominion over creeps!"  It's comical but it's true.  We have the creative ability of God!  We can speak things into existence.  If you don't believe me, listen to the things you say on a daily basis.  "I'm going to get stuck in traffic, I just know it!"  What happened? You got stuck in traffic.  I'm going to be sick as a dog!"  What happened? You got sick!  "I'm never going to have enough money for this!"  What happened?  You never had enough money for it, and you got mad at God since you did sent him a "worry-gram" labeled prayer.  The Message Translation says it so well..."People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."(James 1:6-7).  You tell your child, "You'll never be anything!"  What happened?  They struggle, they fail, and without divine intervention they become what you said!  

God spoke what he wanted to see!  In Genesis 1:1, it was dark.  God did not say, "Oh, it's really dark out here".  He said what he wanted to see!  He said, "Light be!".  The Blessing guarantees perpetual supply and provision.  Don't let an idle word stop the flow of your blessing!  Matthew 12:36-37 says, "Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."(Message).  It is a fight, a Faith Fight!  It may not be easy, but it is possible!  You can do it!

Living Large!  Love and prayers, Cynthia